Mercerizing machine



Filed Feb. 6. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1927.

F. s. wlLcox MERCERI ZING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gru/wanton FTWLZGW,

Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

unirsi) sTATEs FRANK SEMPLE WILCOX, OF UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA.

MERCERIZING MACHINE.

Application filed February 6, 1926. Serial No. 86,489.

l rThe present invention relates to improvements in mercerizing machines and has for an` object to provide for a re-circulation of the wash water which flows over the skeins.

The invention is shown and described in connection 'with the well known Smith drum machine shown 'in U. S. Patent No. 983,543

granted February 7, 1911, in which perfo rated pipes are arranged above the skeins for spraying water over the skeins after they have been raised out of the mercerizing bath. The wash water after passing over the skeins is at the present time wasted although its absorptive power is only partially used, only a certain portion of the water coming in contact with the yarn. The water actually comes in contact with the yarn and is only partially saturated with the caustic solution. This water is also generally heated so that by re-circulating the water until it reaches or approaches the saturation point, great economy is effected, not only in the saving of the water, but also in curtailing fuel expense.

According to the invention the wash water is re-circulated to the spray pipes above the yarn and is only permitted to waste slowly in comparison with former methods, only so much fresh water as is actually needed being introduced into the closed circuit of the wash water.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, showing parts in section of the Smith machine with the improved 11e-circulating arrangement applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the trough and connected pipe.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 4 designates the tank for the merceriz* ing fluid in which the skeins carried by the upper frame indicated by 5 are adapted to be immersed when the frame is lowered. l

The skeins indicated at 6 in dotted lines in Figure 2 are wound about the upper and lower pairs of rods or rollers 7 and 8 carried in the frame 5.

Above each skein is a. perforated pipe 9 extending horizontally substantially the length of the skein and these pipes are, in the machine referred to, mounted in pairs at opposite sides of the central part of the machine and connect with'the headers 10 and 11V which supply the wash water thereto. The headers are connected at one end by the pipe 12. This pipe 12 is in turn coupled to the supply pipe 13 having the controlling valve 14. The pipe 13 is in communication with a source of wash water usually steam heated or steam may be introduced into the pipe at any point in order to heat the incoming water.

After the wash water has been sprayed upon and flows over the skeins it is received upon the sloping plate 15 arranged above the tank 4, being deflected by this plate to the opposite troughs 16 and 17. These troughs are usual parts of the Smith machine and they ordinarily carry the wash water directly to the sewer. According to the invention the ends of the troughs are closed and pipes 18 and 19 connect with the troughs for the purpose of withdrawing the wash water therefrom. The pipes 18 and 19 are branch pipes which connect with the eduction pipe 20. A centrifugal or other pump 21 is used to withdraw the water and to return it through the pipe 22 tothe supply pipe 12. A steam pipe is indicated at 23 having the valve 24 for admitting steam into the system for the purpose of heating the fresh wash water or for .re-heating the recirculated wash water.

In the use of the device the wash water is supplied to the headers 10 and 11 and is sprayed out through the perforated device 9 upon the yarn. This water flows through the yarn for the purpose of washing the mercerizing fluid therefrom and the water absorbs the caustic solution. After passing through or along the skeins the water drips down upon the plate 15 and is directed to the troughs 16 and 17. From this point the wash water is withdrawn at a predetermined rate by the centrifugal pump 21 and passed back to the pipe 12 where it is returned to the headers above. Fresh wash water is introduced through the pipe 13 from time to time, or continuously at a very slow rate through regulation of the valve 14 and steam may be admitted through the pipe 23 by regulation of the valve 24 wherein necessary. In order to reduce the density of the re-circulated Water, openings are made in the side Walls of the troughs to permit overflow of the Watertolthe setvert The dotted line indicated at 26"' indicates the Water level in the troughs and it additional Wash AWater is introduced it Will raise this level and cause an overflow at the openings 25 thus removing from the system some of the saturated, or nearly saturated Wash Water to make room for the fresh supply comi/ng in through the pipe 13.

In actual practice about one-halt of the supply Water is shown to be saved. rlhis isa substantial economy in the water itself and Where steam is used to heat the water,

a like substantial economy is effected in the' It is obvious that Various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention Without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the 'ollowing claims:

lhat is claimed is y lf. In combi-nation with a mercerizing machine havingy a tank, skein racks above the tank, spraying pipes above said racks and troughs below the racks to receive wash Water draining 'from the skeins, a pump connected to said trougl-is for withdrawing` partially satura-ted Wash Water therefrom, a return pipek leading -from the pump tol said spraying pipes for redelivering the wash Water thereto, means for supplying fresh wash Water to said return pipe, and means for supplying steam to said return pipe for heating the fresh and recovered Wash Water.

2. In combination with a mercerizing machine having spraying headers, skein racks beneath the headers, and troughs for collecting the Washv Water dripping from the skeins, a. fluid circuit including the troughs and said spraying headers for recovering partially saturated Wash Water and redelivering the Wash Water to said spraying headers, means tor adding fresh Wash Water to the circuit, means tor heating the Wash Water in the circuit, and means for regulating the removal of the saturated Wash Water a'ccumulat-ing in the troughs.

3. In combination with a mercerizing ma'- chine having a sprayer` head, skein holders arranged beneath the head, and means for collecting wash Water dripping from the skeins, an eduction pipe connected to said Wash water collecting means, a pump connected to said eduction pipe for drawing recovered and partially saturated Wash water from said means, a supply pipe leading from the pump to said sprayer head', a' steam pipe connected to said supply pipe for heating the Wash Water passing therethrough, and a iresh Water supply pipe connected to said sprayer head for replenishi-ng the exhausted wash Water.-

FRANK SEMPLE VILCOX, 

